CHINA AND SINGAPORE:LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER

By Yuan Yanan

Sun Xi

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)concluded on October 22.The report to the 20th CPC National Congress declared: “From this day forward,the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts along a Chinese path to modernization.”

“The strong leadership core,consistent long-term plans,and firm and effective implementation have been the key instruments for China to achieve such great and glorious accomplishments,” said Sun Xi,a Chinese entrepreneur and critic who has been residing in Singapore for a long time,in an interview with China Report ASEAN.He believes that because China and Singapore maintain a close and special relationship,they should both learn from each other’s experience in governance.

China Report ASEAN: How do you rate China’s achievements over the past decade? What expectations do you have for the country’s development in the coming decade?

Sun Xi:Clearly,China has been developing quickly and has made remarkable achievements.On the macro level,it has been playing the role of a major booster for economic growth in Asia and even the whole world.On environmental protection,China’s ecological conservation has gained impressive results as the concept of “l(fā)ucid waters and lush mountains being invaluable assets” has been embraced by the Chinese people.On improving people’s wellbeing,China has won the battle against poverty and made the largest miracle of poverty reduction in human history.On governance,China’s battle against corruption has been firm,radical,and effective,developing an atmosphere of integrity across society.

On the micro level,visible progress has taken place in everyday life.An increasing number of cities now have high-speed rails,which greatly facilitates public transportation.Mobile payments are also enjoying a stunning speed of acceptance.I am a witness to all these remarkable achievements.In the next decade,I believe that a promising future awaits China and that the country’s development will continue to attract worldwide attention.The report to the 20th CPC National Congress clearly stated that the country will “advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.”China always honors its commitments with concrete action,so I believe that the great Chinese Dream will definitely come true during the next decade.

My confidence is not fueled by excessive optimism,but by China’s robust and unique core advantages.A strong leadership core,consistent long-term plans,and firm and effective implementation are the key instruments to attain such great and glorious accomplishments,and they will continue to guide the Chinese people to new victory in the future.

I hope and believe that China’s reform and opening up will continue and that China will open its door ever wider.Measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic will be adjusted as the virus’ impact eases.I believe that exchange and communication between China and other countries will gradually resume in the near future.Of course,it will be realized on the premise that the pandemic becomes controllable in China and people’s lives are protected.

The pandemic is only one episode of China’s development story.In the following decade,the theme of reform and opening up will persist across China’s development.As China shares its development gains with the whole world,the country will work with other countries to build a human community with a shared future.

Suzhou Industrial Park.(VCG)

China Report ASEAN: What opportunities will China’s economic growth create for ASEAN?

Sun Xi:ASEAN is of priority for China’s neighborhood diplomacy and a major regional participant in high-quality construction through the Belt and Road Initiative.Since China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations were established in 1991,bilateral relations have witnessed leapfrog development in just three decades.The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was China’s first foreign-negotiated free trade agreement and the biggest FTA built between developing countries.China and ASEAN are also now each other’s largest trading partner.

In the future,China and ASEAN will continue to focus on cooperation and communication in multiple fields including connectivity,agriculture,fish processing,the food industry,tourism,social and cultural exchanges,trade and investment,the digital economy,poverty alleviation,inclusive development,its energy.China’s economic development has brought great opportunities to ASEAN,and its future economic growth will continue to boost both the economic and social development of ASEAN.

Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative,Chinese enterprises are no longer strangers to ASEAN countries.People from all sectors and industries of ASEAN are expecting continued and greater opening and development from China because it benefits ASEAN.

China Report ASEAN: What do you think of the current China-Singapore relationship?What cooperation opportunities will both countries’ enterprises embrace as China pursues a green development philosophy and pledges to achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals?

Sun Xi:The relationship between China and Singapore is close and special.China is Singapore’s largest trading partner,while Singapore is China’s biggest source of foreign investment.Currently,the three intergovernmental projects between China and Singapore,namely Suzhou Industrial Park,Tianjin Eco-city,and China-Singapore (Chongqing)Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity,are proceeding with steady progress.

Recently,China and Singapore signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on cooperation on the digital economy and green development,which will generate more opportunities for both sides to cooperate on innovation.

Singapore has excelled at taking advantage of China’s economic development during each stage.Therefore,as China embraces a green development philosophy and moves towards the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals,Singapore will definitely seize the new opportunities and become deeply involved in China’s green development.Singapore has abundant experience in green finance as well as energy conservation and emission reduction,which could be applied in the huge Chinese market.Both countries will achieve win-win results.

At the beginning of the reform and opening up,China was proactive in learning from Singapore’s advanced experience in both governance and economic development.Combining the Western concepts,systems,and technologies with Asian philosophies,cultures,and traditions,Singapore is quite adept at making and applying approaches that are suitable to its national situation.For example,Asian Values based on the rule of law is significant for China to use as reference.

In recent years,China and Singapore have reached a new stage of mutual learning.Many of China’s advanced development philosophies and practices have become examples for Singapore to learn.A great number of development results featuring the “Chinese innovation,”particularly mobile payments,the sharing economy,and artificial intelligence,are already offering references for Singapore to pursue further economic growth.